Letter: Initial thoughts on the Irish Synod

The Irish Catholic Bishops have invited people to submit in no more than 300 words their ideas for Models of preparation for the two years leading up to an Irish Synod. Here for what is worth are my initial thoughts:

I would begin by asking for submissions from individuals, families, groups, parishes, deaneries, dioceses, etc, based on an A4 sheet SWOT analysis where each submission provides a list of five Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats to our Mission as Church.

In a spirit of Subsidiarity I would suggest that where possible these be collated at group, parish, deanery and diocesan levels so that local responses can be measured and acted upon.

In all of this it would be useful for future planning to have analysis in terms of age, gender, extent of religious practice, etc.

In the case of parishes and dioceses it would be most helpful if their last two pastoral plans could be evaluated in terms of measured achievements.

In a spirit of transparency it would also be helpful if each organisation, parish and diocese could submit realistic accounts of their resources in terms of people power, buildings and finances. Catholic educational establishments should also be measured in terms of the same general criteria used by the Catholic Education Service in England and Wales.

It would also be helpful to have full demographic data from parishes and dioceses in terms of measurable spiritual activities such as infant baptisms, adult baptisms, confirmations, Mass attendances, Communion numbers, marriages, etc

Communication is essential for success. Living as I do in a diocese that lacks a diocesan newspaper I would ask that every diocese produce and widely distribute a monthly flyer containing national and local synodal news and fact gathering information leading up to and following on from the National Synod.

Alan Whelan,

Killarney. Co Kerry

LINK

11 March 2021 - Walking Together - A Synodal Pathway leading to a National Synodal Assembly for the Catholic Church in Ireland www.catholicbishops.ie/2021/03/11/walking-together-a-synodal-pathway-leading-to-a-national-synodal-assembly-for-the-catholic-church-in-ireland/